Massimo Ficcadenti started the 2011/12 season in charge of Cagliari and he began this campaign at the helm too. However, what seemingly appears to be continuity is anything but at a club which is constantly changing. Whether it be managers or players or where they play their home games, Caglairi is a club that never stands still. Ficcadenti had been fired and then re-hired at the end of last season where he managed to achieve safety. It came as some surprise that he stayed on but no one was in shock when the volatile club president, Massimo Cellino, dismissed him after a truly terrible start to the season which saw the team go six games without a win, losing four of those fixtures. A home defeat by lowly Pescara was the last straw for Ficcadenti. Cellino surprised everyone by appointing Ivo Pulga, a man who had managed only at youth team level and never been in charge at a professional team. The strange appointment was coupled with a more welcome one as Cagliari legend Diego Lopez was brought in as his assistant. It proved a match made in heaven as the Rossoblu won four games in a row all by the score of 1-0 - an incredible achievement considering the team were leaking goals like a sieve priorly. However, consistency is just not something associated with the Sardinians and a 4-1 humbling by Fiorentina to start November saw them go on a horrible run of seven defeats and two draws from nine games. There were also a multitude of off-field distractions surrounding the club involving the Stadio IS Arenas which repeatedly failed safety checks meaning games had to often be played behind closed doors. The president was charged with embezzlement over payments made in relation to the stadium. Things could have quite easily imploded at Cagliari but credit must go to Pulga and Lopez for being able to overcome the adversity. The madness off the field hardly ever translated to the pitch come match day and the Islanders managed to turn things around, even putting on some terrific attacking displays. The 4-2 victory over Roma at Stadio Olimpico proved a particular highlight. Even when they were forced to play in a different part of the country, in Trieste, they still managed to get results and were safe from relegation with plenty to spare. The team was filled with brilliant performers who will all likely be courted by bigger clubs in the summer. Michel Agazzi produced some outstanding saves in goal which have caught the eye. Davide Astori was a huge part of the defensive solidity that was found under the new manager whilst Radja Nainggolan continued to be a warrior in the middle of the park. Victor Ibarbo was his usual wonderfully erratic self which fits the club he's at perfectly. However, the surprise story and best piece of business the club did in the transfer market was the acquisition of Marco Sau who has enjoyed a meteoric rise from playing in Serie C just a few seasons ago to being called up for the Italian national squad after his skillful, goal-scoring displays for his club this season. In terms of staff and personnel, everything is in place at Cagliari for further success but the off-field issues need to be resolved for the club to really flourish in the future.
